Kindness is something that comes from the heart,
Yes, it can be taught and people can mask it behind ugly intentions, but I’ve always been able put my eyes to it as if it were water,
When I think of pure hearts I’ve come across in my 30 years of existence I’m blessed to say that I know quite a few,
The neighborhood mom is one that jumps out,
I was blessed to meet a lifelong friend who now resembles family once my mom decided to relocate from Miami to New York,
That friend came from a different culture but we meshed instantly,
As we grew older, I stepped into his home and felt the warm embrace of the Mexican culture,
I seen how his family showed love to someone who he called his brother no matter what background I came from,
Everyone embraced me as family once he made it known I was family,
His mother introduced me to Mexican cuisine and always greeted me with a smile and energy that made me feel as if I just made it to home plate,
Not many people can make me feel safe but she always did,
I remember nights growing up with the crew when we were on Linden Ave misbehaving sharing drinks although we were underaged, I was always offered a place to sleep if I couldn’t hop the fence to make it home that night,
I’m not sure if she ever knew or quite understood how much I appreciated her kindness,
Leaving NY in 2017 I missed out on getting to spend more time con mi hermano y su familia,
Time waits for no one and you sometimes forget parents grow older just as you do,
If I can say one last thing to the neighborhood mom it would be,
“Thank you for giving birth to one of my best friends. Thank you for instilling the same kindness you have into him and the rest of the family. Thank you for the love you give to your family because they dish it right back out into the world. You truly are an amazing person and your family has an endless amount of love for you.”
Rest in paradise.
-KC Pen
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